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Wednesday Round-Up: Seahawks Linebacker Unit Earns Top-10 Ranking From PFF

Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus breaks down why the Seahawks linebacker unit ranks No. 7 in the league heading into the 2023 season.

Jun 21, 2023 at 10:12 AM

Maliik Obee

Seahawks.com Contributor

Good morning, 12s. Here's a look at what's out there today — Wednesday, June 21 — about your Seattle Seahawks.

PFF Ranks Seahawks Linebacker Unit No. 7 In NFL

Reunited and it feels like home.

Welcome back, @Bwagz. 💙 pic.twitter.com/cu3Y6dqVrW
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) March 28, 2023

The 2023 offseason has seen an uprooting of Seattle's linebacker unit, led by the return of Seattle royalty Bobby Wagner in free agency along with fifth-year veteran Devin Bush after a late-season ACL tear ended Jordyn Brooks’ 2022 campaign. In Pro Football Focus’ latest linebacker rankings ahead of the 2023 season, Dalton Wasserman ranks Seattle at No.7 league-wide.

The Top-10 LBs in the NFL, per @TampaBayTre pic.twitter.com/HrMR2PTBpY
— PFF (@PFF) June 3, 2023

After a season away with the Los Angeles Rams, linebacker Wagner is back in a Seahawks jersey. With former teammate Cody Barton preparing for his first season with the Washington Commanders and Brooks rehabbing from last season's injury - Wagner's return is a big deal. In 10 seasons in Seattle, Wagner has accumulated over 100 combined tackles for every year of his career. Even in his year away from the team Wagner shined, accumulating a career-high six sacks in 2022 with Los Angeles. In two matchups with Seattle last season, Wagner combined for 14 tackles, 2 sacks and an interception. In 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Bush No.10 overall from the University of Michigan. In 52 appearances, Bush combined for 286 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions. In 2022, Bush played a career-high 17 games, combining for 81 tackles. Wasserman breaks down why Wagner is such a valuable addition to Seattle's linebacker group, and what could happen if Bush reaches his potential:

Bobby Wagner returns home after one year in Los Angeles, and what a spectacular year it was. Despite the struggles of the Rams team around him, Wagner finished 2022 with the position's best overall grade (90.7) and run-defense grade (91.1). His 91.0 tackling grade also ranked first among his peers, as he missed only four tackles all season. Even at 33, he is still one of the best at the position.

Seattle's questions lie with the rest of the group. Mainstay Jordyn Brooks is a tackling machine and run defender, but his struggles in coverage have kept his overall grades below 60.0 in each of his first three seasons. He's durable and tough but may not be a long-term top-end player in the middle. Free agent acquisition Jordyn Brooks faces similar questions as a former first-round pick who has never found his footing. If either were to have a breakout season, they could combine with Wagner to form an elite group.

In addition to filling up the stat sheet, Brooks returns another leadership presence to the team. The former captain and face of Seattle's defense now gets to reunite with Brooks and aide Bush and the rest of the group, as Seattle looks to make a championship run.

Social Post Of The Day

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon highlighted by the NFL as a Top-3 Contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Thoughts? 👀 pic.twitter.com/nbmRmjGLqP
— NFL (@NFL) June 20, 2023

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